Licensed Addiction Counselor

Position Description

Under direction, provide individual and group counseling sessions to clients and facilitate skills-based therapy as well as evidence-based programming within the Fargo Cass Public Health Withdrawal Management Unit and affiliated programs.

Respond to mental health crises and emergencies within the Withdrawal Management Unit and affiliated programs, which may occasionally be provided on an on-call basis outside normal working hours, as needed. This position will also include assertive street outreach to connect with individuals experiencing homelessness in locations like streets, parks, abandoned buildings, encampments, or vehicles.

Provide clinical oversight and guidance to the Withdrawal Management Unit and work closely with the Program Coordinator in the development of clinical policies and protocols based on best practices and licensing standards set forth by the North Dakota Health and Human Services Administrative Code, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), and the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC).

Manage client cases by coordinating referrals and support services and develop and implement individualized treatment plans.

The position also involves conducting substance use disorder assessments and determining appropriate ASAM levels of care.

Additionally, you will be responsible for maintaining accurate, timely, and compliant documentation and ensuring that all client records meet licensure standards for substance abuse treatment programs.

**This position is funded by Opioid Resettlement funds and is secured through the time these funds remain available. **

Scope of Responsibility:
Responsible for the quality and accuracy of his or her own work. Complies with current licensure standards, and scope of practice set forth by the North Dakota Board of Addiction Counseling Examiners. Work is performed independently under the general supervision of the Withdrawal Management Unit Program Coordinator.

Provides clinical direction and oversight to Harm Reduction Advocates working directly within the Fargo Cass Public Health Withdrawal Management Unit, other Harm Reduction staff, and students.

Primary Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Communicates courteously and professionally and maintains working relationships with others in carrying out job functions.Frequently interacts with others in the work unit, the public, vendors or across departments to exchange detailed and/or technical information;Interaction with the public, vendors/ community partners or across departments occasionally includes negotiations involving convincing the other party to do something to achieve a basic work-related objective.
  
• Provides Client Counseling and TherapyConduct individual counseling sessions to address client needs within the Withdrawal Management Unit and affiliated programs.Facilitate group counseling sessions to support peer interaction and shared learning.Deliver skills-based therapy interventions aligned with client treatment goals.Implement evidence-based programming to address substance use disorders and related challenges.
  
• Crisis Response & Emergency SupportRespond to mental health crises and emergencies within program settings.Provide on-call support outside normal working hours as needed.
  
• Assertive Street OutreachEngage in street outreach to connect with individuals experiencing homelessness.Locate and engage clients in non-traditional settings (e.g., parks, encampments, vehicles).
  
• Clinical Oversight & Program DevelopmentProvide clinical guidance and oversight to the Withdrawal Management Unit to ensure quality care;Collaborate with the Program Coordinator to develop clinical policies, protocols, and procedures;Ensure compliance with licensing standards (ND HHS, ASAM, and NAADAC) and best practices.
  
• Case Management & Treatment PlanningManage client cases by coordinating referrals to internal and external support services.Develop individualized treatment plans tailored to client needs and goals.Monitor and adjust treatment plans based on client progress and evolving needs.
  
• Substance Use Disorder AssessmentsConduct comprehensive substance use disorder evaluations and assessments;Determine appropriate ASAM levels of care for clients.
  
• Documentation & ComplianceMaintain accurate, timely, and detailed client records;Ensure all documentation meets licensure standards for substance abuse treatment programs.
  
• Serves as local or state representative on various committees as necessary or requested.
  
• Performs other duties and activities as assigned.
  
• Performs all job duties in compliance with safety guidelines and with an ongoing awareness of safety practices.Knows and follows department and city rules as well as sound work and safety practices in order to accomplish the job objectives and avoid injury or loss;Wears proper protective equipment when policy requires or conditions indicate a need exists and utilizes proper body mechanics and ergonomics while performing work;When potentially unsafe conditions are observed, they make efforts to avoid or correct them if they are controllable and draws them to the attention of the responsible supervisor or safety representative in a timely manner.

Minimum Qualifications

Requires a bachelor’s degree in Addiction Counseling, Addiction Studies, Social Work, Counseling or Psychology, and current licensure as an Addiction Counselor by the North Dakota Board of Addiction Counseling Examiners (NDBACE) and a minimum of 2 years of experience as a Licensed Addiction Counselor required.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Knowledge of public health-centered interventions, tertiary prevention, evidence-based housing initiatives, and Trauma-Informed and healing-centered philosophies and principles.
• The ability to actively seek out individuals experiencing homelessness in locations like streets, parks, abandoned buildings, encampments, or vehicles.
• Ability to prioritize building relationships and trust, recognizing that it can take time for individuals to feel comfortable accepting help and engaging in recovery.
• Ability to provide tailored services to meet individual needs, preferences, and goals.
• The ability to develop rapport and trust before focusing on long-term goals and respecting individual choice and self-determination.
• Ability to work closely with partners, including law enforcement, healthcare providers, and community organizations to coordinate resources for a smooth pathway to housing and recovery.
• The ability to align with evidence-based housing principles, aiming to connect people directly to stable housing as a primary step, without imposing preconditions like sobriety or treatment completion.
• Adherence to the NAADAC Code of Ethics, upholding ethical principles such as client welfare, confidentiality, and professional integrity in all aspects within scope of work.
• Proficient in both independent and collaborative work environments, with strong interpersonal skills to manage diverse perspectives and foster team unity toward a shared mission, goals, and responsibility.

Physical Demands

Physical Demands & Working Conditions:
Medium Work: Most work is performed in the Withdrawal Management Unit (55%) and other programs within other affiliated programs, including the Gladys Ray Shelter, Street Outreach, Syringe Services Programs and the Downtown Engagement Center (45%) Work will generally be performed in a normal office environment. Work is generally light with considerable variety. Daily work will involve moving between buildings and rooms, and within community to meet with stakeholders and partners (10%). Regular driving is required to attend meetings. The job may involve dealing with and calming individuals who are emotionally charged over an issue. There is considerable attention to detail and deadlines.

The job involves activities related to crisis prevention and intervention. Frequently there is a requirement to actively participate in day-to-day maintenance activities. There may be intermittent exposure to disagreeable working conditions associated with guest or client behavior, illness or hygiene. This job includes primarily working Monday through Friday, during the day and evening hours. However, there may be times when it is required to work outside these normal working hours of work.

Activities include stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, digital dexterity, grasping, feeling, talking, and hearing/listening, seeing/observing, repetitive motions.

Physical demands are normally those associated with medium work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or 10 pounds of force frequently or constantly. The job may require dealing with individuals who are emotionally charged.

There is regular exposure to potential hazards such as body fluids, contagious diseases and environmental hazards.

Agency Summary:
Fargo Cass Public Health strives to provide the Essential Public Health Services to achieve equity and actively promote policies, systems, and overall community conditions that enable optimal health for all and seek to remove systemic and structural barriers that have resulted in health inequities.

Such barriers include poverty, racism, gender discrimination, ableism, and other forms of oppression. Everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to achieve optimal health and wellbeing.

Fargo Cass Public Health is a politically neutral organization focused on evidence-based and fundamental public health practices that reflect the mission of Public Health to prevent, promote, and protect. Staff of Public Health are expected to represent these principles and be advocates of public health practices within the community and state.